1:6, 7 — “I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. But I will have compassion on the house of Judah.”
God allowed Israel to be conquered by Assyria because of their many years with consistently idolatrous and evil kings. However, He protected Judah from the threat because of kings such as Hezekiah who willingly repented and sought Him (2 Kin. 19:15–36). Yet, understand, God did not desire calamity for His people (Jer. 29:11); rather, He wanted to bring Israel back into fellowship with Him through the judgment (Hos. 2:14–23). Mercy is not earned or deserved. In fact, the Lord is clear: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy” (Rom. 9:15). Yet we can be thankful that He always acts in grace and compassion toward us.
1:10 — In the place where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” it will be said to them, “You are the sons of the living God.”
Even in judgment, God shows mercy. Throughout the prophets, declarations of awful judgment are intertwined with promises of restoration and mercy. Here, God foreshadows the coming of Christ, where He would not rescue the people in an earthly, national way, but offer salvation to the whole world on an eternal, personal level (Jer. 31:31–34; Ezek. 11:16–20; 36:22–28). We owe everything to God’s grace.
2:8 — “She does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, and lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.”
Every good thing we have and enjoy is nothing but a gift from the hand of God (James 1:17). We must never attribute the good gifts of God to anyone or anything other than Him or use His gifts for evil purposes.
Life Examples
What Did She Want?
It’s difficult to understand a woman like Gomer. The prophet Hosea loved her faithfully, provided for her consistently, and invited her to enjoy a safe, fulfilling relationship with him. Instead, she opted for a series of “lovers” who sought nothing but their own pleasure. What was her problem? What did she want?
Scripture tells us the reason behind her (and Israel’s) adultery: “I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink” (Hos. 2:5). In other words, she was looking for someone to satisfy her needs in her way rather than God’s. This is the definition of arrogance—when we believe we know better than the Lord.
Unfortunately, the same pride that corrupted her heart threatens to lead us away from our First Love as well. This happens whenever we seek something other than the Lord to meet the deep longings within us.
What is it that you look to for significance, acceptance, and worth?
• a bigger house
• a better job
• more wealth and possessions
• an exciting relationship
• beauty
• intelligence
Yet God says to us, as He did to her, “Behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her” (Hos. 2:14). So turn to Him, friend, because only He can truly satisfy the hunger in your heart.
See the Life Principles Index for further study:
15. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness.
2:16 — “It will come about in that day,” declares the LORD, “that you will call Me Ishi and will no longer call Me Baali.”
The Hebrew word Ishi means “husband,” while Baali means “owner.” The first word expresses the deepest desire of God’s heart for us—that we would know Him intimately as a wife loves and trusts her mate. We should never serve God out of obligation or tradition. Rather, our obedience to Him should spring from the adoration and respect we feel for Him.
What the Bible Says About
In order to know someone intimately, you can’t just know what they do—you must know their character and heart. You have to know what motivates them. The same is true for God. In Hosea 2:19, 20, He says, “I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord.” He has “betrothed” (or engaged) His people to Himself for one reason: to let Himself be known.
Unfortunately, sometimes we know about God, but we really don’t know Him. Yet God wants us to love Him in a deep, intimate relationship. Here are six reasons we should know God’s ways.
1. We should know the ways of God because they are essential in knowing Him. By learning the ways God works, we become acquainted with His heart—and life’s greatest joy is knowing Him personally and intimately (Ps. 25:4, 5).
2. We should know the ways of God because He requires that we know them. The Lord desires for us to go beyond a surface relationship with Him, so He has given us commands to follow to facilitate it. We learn not merely to see Him as our Master, but as our Beloved (Deut. 10:12).
3. We should know the ways of God because it is the yearning of His heart for us to do so. The Lord desires our fellowship—for us to seek and worship Him wholeheartedly (Jer. 33:3). This fact alone should motivate us to pursue a deep, meaningful relationship with Him.
4. We should know the ways of God because He loves us. Our heavenly Father desires the very best for us, and He wants each of us to realize that His plans for us will always be above and beyond all we could ask or imagine (Jer. 31:3; 1 Cor. 2:9; Eph. 3:20).
5. We should know the ways of God because they are the best way. No matter what situation we must endure or how difficult a choice we have to make, we can be certain that God’s way is the best way to face it. He will guide us and give us the strength and wisdom to handle our circumstances in a godly manner (Jer. 29:11).
6. We should know the ways of God because they are the pathway to success. Although the world’s definition of achievement involves wealth and power, to the Lord true success lies in obedience to His will (1 John 2:17). Ultimately, no one can thwart the plans of God—He will succeed and achieve the victory (Job 42:2). And when we submit to Him, we share in His triumph.
Therefore, set your heart to know all of God—His works, His ways, and His will for your life. Because He promises, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).
See the Life Principles Index for further study:
1. Our intimacy with God—His highest priority for our lives—determines the impact of our lives.
2:20 — “I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD.”
God extends His lovingkindness to us, even when we stray from Him. Our highest and most fulfilling purpose is an intimate relationship with the Lord God. Certainly, when we seek Him, we will find Him (Jer. 29:11–13; Matt. 7:7, 8; Luke 11:9, 10).
As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances.
Life is not simple. We face many bumps and turns along the way. The race is real, the battle continuous, and the painful experiences may pierce our heart. However, our circumstances should not define who we are or how we react. Rather, as believers our behavior in every situation should honor the Lord Jesus, and our identity should always be based on the salvation He has provided for us.
Chapter 11 of Hebrews is populated with men and women who endured despite adverse circumstances. You may say, “Of course they persevered—God worked so powerfully in their situation. Look how their story turned out!” Yet understand, just like you, the saints of old did not know how their story would end, nor whether God would keep His promises to them. First Kings 8:56 reports, “Not one word has failed of all His good promise.”
So how did they demonstrate such strong faith in God? They did so because they trusted in the fact that the Lord was able to help them and work everything out for their good (Rom. 8:28; Heb. 11:1). Even when nothing else made sense to them, they placed their hope in their sovereign Lord—and He rewarded them for their confidence (Heb. 11:6).
In the fifth grade, a young man, who is now a pastor, had to memorize the inspiring list of godly people in Hebrews 11—the faithful servants of the Lord who persevered in their great trials by trusting God. It was one of the most transformative lessons of his life. When he went through a rough time in the ministry, the Lord reminded him of these great people of faith and gave him the confidence to endure as they did.
When thinking about the Bible’s unseen cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1), we should likewise be encouraged by their testimonies. We should be heartened by the story of Joseph, who endured though life seemed so unfair (Gen. 45:4–8; 50:20). Or David, who obeyed God even though, at times, everything seemed to work against him becoming king of Israel as the Lord had promised (1 Sam. 23:14). Or Moses, who “endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” (Heb. 11:27) and led the people of Israel to the Promised Land. Or the disciples, who were desolated at the crucifixion of Christ, only to be strengthened, heartened, and filled with purpose at His resurrection.
Had any of them considered themselves victims of their circumstances, they would have begun their journey with God in defeat and discouragement. Instead, they focused on the almighty hand of the Lord and triumphed with Him.
Likewise, we can say, “God, if they endured, so can I, because You are sovereign just as You were then, and You love me as You loved them. Therefore, I will not consider myself a victim of my circumstances. Rather, I will view every situation as an opportunity for Your glory to shine forth in victory.”
God knows the Christian life is not easy. When you received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, He set you on your course. As your sovereign Lord, He mapped out all the bumps, turns, detours, hills, and valleys. He knew all the difficulties you would face. He understood that you would continually clash with the world, the flesh, and the devil until you were home with Him. Yet He didn’t merely set you on the path, hoping you would find your way. He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell you, guide you, and encourage you. Endurance requires something that doesn’t come easily—and that is trust in your unseen, sovereign God. However, with the Holy Spirit to remind you of His faithfulness and power (John 14:26), you can remain committed to Him.
When the going gets rough—and it will—you can’t run away. You can’t quit. The longer you faithfully obey the Lord, regardless of the circumstances, the stronger your faith becomes. You become prepared for greater service and expanded ministry. You become strong, stalwart, and steadfast.
The One who endured the Cross lives in you, so that you are fully equipped for anything He calls you to do. If you stumble, He is there to pick you up. Just remember to always keep your eyes on Jesus. Don’t quit. Persevere.
You aren’t alone—your sovereign Lord is with you in every situation. Therefore, call upon Him to infuse you with His power and wisdom, and obey anything He calls you to do. And remember that you are never a victim of your circumstances, for your sovereign God can use everything that happens to you for your blessing and His glory.
See the Life Principles Index for further study.
3:5 — Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.
We may know what it means to fear the Lord—but what does it mean to fear “His goodness”? Here, Hosea foreshadows the coming of the Messiah—the offspring of David who would be the King of kings (Rev. 19:16). As we have seen through Christ, the goodness, holiness, and abundant love of God to us is so great and undeserved that it ought to make us tremble.
4:6 — “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
If only in the Lord do we find life, then we had better make it a priority to learn as much about Him and His ways as possible—and that means spending prayerful and extended time in His presence and Word.
4:10 — They will eat, but not have enough; they will play the harlot, but not increase, because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD.
The Israelites sought the Canaanite deities because they were supposed to bring fertility and prosperity. However, in so doing, they forsook God, who truly supplied all of their needs. Their prideful, idolatrous attempts to fill their own needs would end in disaster. When we obey the Lord, He assumes full responsibility for our needs—satisfying us from His abundance. But when we disobey Him, anything we acquire will turn to ashes.
5:11 — Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to follow man’s command.
God wants us to seek Him and come before Him with our requests and questions. He wants to lead and guide us every moment of our lives. However, when we leave Him out of our deliberations and depend on our sinful human inclinations (such as the Israelites serving the pagan fertility deities; Hos. 2:8) and resources (such as the Israelites seeking the aid of Assyria; Hos. 5:13), we open ourselves to unnecessary hardship.
5:15 — In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.
God does not use affliction because He enjoys it. On the contrary, Lamentations 3:33 reports, “He does not afflict willingly or grieve the sons of men.” Rather, He allows adversity because sometimes that is the only way to get our attention, and it’s the only warning we will heed.
6:3 — “Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.”
The Israelites returned to the Lord with lip service and meaningless sacrifices rather than in true repentance. This is why God responded, “Your loyalty is like a morning cloud and like the dew which goes away early” (Hos. 6:4). Soon enough their loyalty to Him would dissipate, and they would turn back to their evil ways. Our highest pursuit in life is to know the Lord for who He really is and seek Him in genuine repentance and steadfast devotion. A lackadaisical commitment will never do (Rev. 3:15, 16). He wants our whole heart, so never give Him anything less.
6:6 — I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Repeatedly in Scripture, the Lord tells us that He has no desire for half-hearted religious ritual (1 Sam. 15:22; Ps. 40:6; 51:16, 17; Is. 1:11–20; Jer. 7:22, 23; Joel 2:12, 13; Mark 12:33). Instead, He greatly desires for our hearts to be on fire for Him—for us to joyfully love Him and love others in His name (John 13:34, 35; 15:10–14; 1 John 3:23, 24).
Answers to Life’s Questions
How can I get to really know God?
Did you know that God wants to show you more of Himself every day? Are you seeking after God with all your strength? Does your time with the Lord revitalize you, or does it feel more like a ritualistic experience?
Contrast the experience of Gomer with that of an earlier Israelite, Hannah (1 Sam. 1–2). Gomer did not care to know God. Yet Hannah sought after God with all her heart. What made the difference? Knowing God.
In Hosea 6:6, God is clear: “I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” In order to deepen your relationship with God and remain devoted to Him:
• You must come to Him honestly. Confessing your sins and inviting Jesus Christ into your heart requires you to be vulnerable. Although such humility and repentance may be intimidating, accepting Christ is the best decision anyone can ever make.
• You must understand your reliance upon Him. Hannah saw God as her only source of comfort and power: “She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly” (1 Sam. 1:10). And because she did, He looked upon her with compassion and grace (vv. 19, 20).
• You must become interested in what interests Him. Has your desire for spiritual insight and godly wisdom declined? If so, ask the Lord to restore your longing for Him and for the things that most concern Him.
• You must know His Word. By reading the Bible, you open your heart to Him. He has given you the Holy Spirit to help you understand His Word, and He wants you to meditate on it so you can apply it to your life.
• You must observe His characteristics and ways. Read the promises that God makes in His Word. Ask Him to remind you of how He has already worked in your life—with all the wisdom, love, and power you will ever need for any challenge you will ever face.
• You must accept His invitation and follow His commands. God is constantly inviting you to walk with Him. Give the Lord total control of your decisions, time, talents, and possessions—walking in complete submission to Him. Your obedience will certainly bring great blessings.
Your knowledge of God grows as you increasingly recognize His love for you. God delights in your joyful praise and worship of Him. Psalm 46:10 says, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” As you get to know God on deeper levels, your ability to trust and obey Him will increase. You will find your life’s fulfillment when you come to know and exalt the Lord of all creation.
See the Life Principles Index for further study:
7:7 — None of them calls on Me.
The Lord invites us to come to Him in prayer at any time of the day, for any reason, with any problem, challenge, or request (Ps. 50:15; 91:15; Is. 55:6; Jer. 29:12; 33:3). What keeps us from taking Him up on His offer?
7:14 — They do not cry to Me from their heart when they wail on their beds.
A cry of anguish is not the same as a cry for mercy. Paul wrote, “The sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10). Affliction does not necessarily bring us back to the Lord; it depends on what we do with it. However, if we will turn to the Lord earnestly in our suffering, we will find that our adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with Him.
8:4 — They have set up kings, but not by Me.
God wants to be intimately involved in all the details of our lives, especially in the major decisions that shape our futures. When Israel chose her kings without the Lord’s guidance, they ultimately regretted it.
8:7 — They sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind.
We will always suffer the consequences of our foolish, sinful actions. We reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow.
9:5 — What will you do on the day of the appointed festival and on the day of the feast of the LORD?
In the land of their exile, the Israelites would be cut off from every way they could serve the Lord and remember His great provision for them, namely all the feasts and festivals they were accustomed to celebrating (Lev. 23). This would be how the Israelites finally understood their terrible situation. Never mistake the Lord’s great patience with His people as an acceptance of evil. When we knowingly step out of His will, He calls us to turn back to Him. However, if we refuse to return to Him, sorrow awaits.
9:17 — My God will cast them away because they have not listened to Him.
A chronic case of disobedience may reveal not just a rebellious heart, but an unbelieving one. The Hebrews who died in the wilderness wanderings refused to obey “because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:19). Here we are told that the nation of Israel would be scattered throughout the nations. Although it would be much more difficult to cling to God in the pagan cultures they were exiled to, God promised that one day He would regather Israel and give her back the land (Ezek. 28:25; 36:23–38; 37:21).
10:8 — They will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”
Jesus quoted this verse as the Romans led Him away to be crucified (Luke 23:30). He did so to warn of the terrible adversity that would result in the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70. John also mentions it in reference to the utter despair, fear, and hopelessness people will feel during the tribulation (Rev. 6:16). How much better to call on God in love and repentance than face His judgment!
10:13 — You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors.
God wants us to develop both our minds and our relationships, but He never wants us to put our hope for the future in either one. “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God” (Ps. 20:7).
Life Examples
A Longing for Intimacy
Without questioning God, Hosea obeyed Him and took the prostitute Gomer to be his wife. Though she wandered and repeatedly slipped into unfaithfulness, Hosea obeyed the Lord and did not cast her away.
The moving poetry of Hosea reveals the longing of God for uninterrupted intimacy with His people. Can you sense the agony in His words? “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? . . . My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled” (11:8).
God longs for an intimate relationship with you. And in the most dramatic display of love of all time, He provided His Son, Jesus Christ, as the means to make such fellowship possible. God is the passionate and faithful Lover of your soul.
See the Life Principles Index for further study:
1. Our intimacy with God—His highest priority for our lives—determines the impact of our lives.
11:3 — Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; but they did not know that I healed them.
God “healed” Ephraim over and over again, even when they lacked the sense to recognize His loving hand. How has God healed you? Where do you recognize His hand in your life?
11:4 — I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws.
God prefers to deal with His people in love and grace, not in anger and judgment. However, we should never forget how seriously God takes our relationship with Him. He calls us to holiness and obedience out of love and thankfulness for all He has done for us (1 Pet. 1:13–23).
12:6 — Return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually.
God wants to lead and provide for us in every aspect of our lives with Him—including those times when we need to repent. He actually helps us return to Him! Without His Spirit to guide and empower us, we could not show mercy, provide justice, or even wait for Him.
13:4 — You were not to know any god except Me, for there is no savior besides Me.
Passages like this one show us the truth of the Trinity—that Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30). There is only one God, and He is our only Savior; yet Scripture also plainly calls Jesus our Savior (Acts 13:23; Phil. 3:20; 2 Pet. 1:11). There is only one God (Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; Is. 43:10; 44:6; 46:9; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:4), but He exists in three divine, eternal, co-equal persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:1–3, 26; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1–3, 14, 18; 1 Cor. 8:6; 12:4–6; Eph. 4:4–7; Jude 20, 21).
13:6 — As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, and being satisfied, their heart became proud; therefore they forgot Me.
The history of Israel suggests that the nation turned from God most often not in times of hardship, but in times of prosperity. We must beware of the same traps (Deut. 8:10–18).
14:2 — Take words with you and return to the LORD.
Why does God insist that we confess our sins to Him (Ps. 32:5; 1 John 1:9)? Why should we “take words” with us when we return to the Lord? Because we must verbally agree with God that what we’ve done is wrong—choosing His standard of holiness rather than our own. Sin wields power over us when it is hidden. However, when we confess it to God, He breaks its hold and gives us freedom from it (Prov. 28:13).
14:9 — The ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous will walk in them.
Jesus died not only to save us from the penalty of sin, but also from its power. His grace enables us to walk in His righteous ways.